May 4, 2016

Born on this date
Happy Birthday, John Dea!

220 years ago
1796

Born on this date
William H. Prescott. U.S. historian. Mr. Prescott, credited as America's first scientific historian, specialized in political and military history of late Renaissance Spain and the early Spanish Empire. His books included The History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic (1837); The History of the Conquest of Mexico (1843); A History of the Conquest of Peru (1847); and the unfinished History of the Reign of Phillip II (1856–1858). Mr. Prescott died from a stroke on January 28, 1859 at the age of 62.

Horace Mann. U.S. educator and politician. Mr. Mann was the foremost advocate of secular public schooling in the United States from the late 1830s through the 1850s. He was a member of the Massachusetts state legislature (1827-1833), and as a Whig, represented Massachusetts' 8th District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1848-1853). Mr. Mann campaigned unsuccessfully as the Free Soil Party candidate for Governor of Massachusetts in 1852, and served as President of Antioch College from 1852 until his death from typhoid fever on August 2, 1859 at the age of 63.

William Pennington. U.S. politician. Mr. Pennington, a Republican, was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly (1828) and Governor of New Jersey (1837-1843). He represented New Jersey's 5th District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1859-1861), and was Speaker of the House (1860-1861). Mr. Pennington died from an accidental morphine overdose on February 16, 1862 at the age of 65.

200 years ago
1816

Died on this date
Samuel Dexter, 55. U.S. politician. Mr. Dexter, a Federalist, represented Massachusetts' 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives (1793-1795) and represented the state in the U.S. Senate (1799-1800) before serving in the cabinet of President John Adams as Secretary of War (1800-1801), and in the cabinets of Mr. Adams and his successor, Thomas Jefferson, as Secretary of the Treasury (January 1-May 13, 1801). Mr. Dexter became a Democratic-Republican and supported the War of 1812. He campaigned unsuccessfully for Governor of Massachusetts in 1814, 1815, and 1816, and died 10 days before his 55th birthday.

130 years ago
1886

Born on this date
Shelton Brooks. Canadian-born U.S. musician. Mr. Brooks, a native of Amherstburg, Ontario, moved with his family to Detroit in 1901. He played piano and performed in vaudeville, but was primarily known for writing songs such as Some of These Days (1910) and Darktown Strutters' Ball (1916). Mr. Brooks died on September 6, 1975 at the age of 89; he was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.

Protest
A labour demonstration in Chicago became the Haymarket Square riot.

100 years ago
1916

Born on this date
Jane Jacobs. U.S.-born Canadian urban theorist. Mrs. Jacobs was known for her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961), in which she argued that urban renewal didn't respected the wishes of most city dwellers. She organized grassroots efforts to protest the overhaul of her New York City neighbourhood of Greenwich Village. After moving to Toronto in 1968, she led protests against proposed expressways in that city. Mrs. Jacobs died on April 25, 2006, nine days before her 90th birthday.

Died on this date
John Murray, 64. Australian politician. Mr. Murray, a Liberal, represented Warmambool in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1884 until his death, and held several cabinet posts before serving as Premier of Victoria (1909-1912). He resigned as Premier in the result of opposition within his party, and served as Chief Secretary in the government of his successor, William Watt. Mr. Murray died in an equestrian accident.

90 years ago
1926

Labour
The United Kingdom general strike, called by the General Council of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in an unsuccessful attempt to force the British government to act to prevent wage reduction and worsening conditions for 1.2 million locked-out coal miners, began.

75 years ago
1941

War
The British command in Cairo claimed that the German-Italian attack on the Libyan port of Tobruk had been brought to to a "standstill." 17 military, naval, defense production, economic, and political experts released a statement in New York saying that the United Kingdom could win the European war with American aid.

Diplomacy
French Vice Premier François Darlan returned to Vichy from Paris with German Fuehrer Adolf Hitler's purported demands for political collaboration with Germany as well as industrial and economic cooperation. Japanese Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuola rejected a proposal that he visit the United States.

Archaeology
University of Arizona anthropologist Dr. Emil Haury reported that excavations in a cave on Castle Mountain in Arizona proved that the southwestern United States was inhabited by man 5,000 years before Christ.

Economics and finance
A Bolivian spokesman in La Paz said that the government would not consider a Japanese proposal to buy tungsten.

Labour
1,400 American Federation of Labor drivers and other employees went on strike against Pennsylvania Greyhound Lines.

Disasters
The worst floods ever recorded in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul left 60,000 people in Porto Alegre homeless.

70 years ago
1946

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Prisoner of Love--Perry Como with Russ Case and His Orchestra (Best Seller--1st week at #1); Oh! What it Seemed to Be--Frankie Carle and His Orchestra with Marjorie Hughes (Airplay--7th week at #1; Juke Box--8th week at #1; Honor Roll of Hits--9th week at #1)

War
Chinese Nationalist General Tu Yu-ming said that his troops had "smashed" a surprise Communist attack against the Manchurian city of Mukden.

Defense
Iranian Army officers reported in Tehran that the Soviet Red Army had completed its evacuation of Iran.

Diplomacy
At the Paris Conference of foreign ministers, U.S. Secretary of State James Byrnes suggested that a plebiscite be held in the disputed Yugoslav-Italian border region.

Protest
The "Battle of Alcatraz" ended when U.S. Marines from the nearby Treasure Island Naval Base stopped a two-day riot by prisoners at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary off San Francisco. Five people were killed in the riot.

Horse racing
Assault, with Warren Mehrtens up, won the 72nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:06 3/5. Spy Song placed second and Hampden finished third in the 17-horse field.



60 years ago
1956

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): No Other Love--Ronnie Hilton

50 years ago
1966

Died on this date
Bob Elliott, 49. U.S. baseball player. Mr. Elliott was a third baseman and right fielder with the Pittsburgh Penguins (1939-1946); Boston Braves (1947-1951); New York Giants (1952); St. Louis Browns (1953); and Chicago White Sox (1953), batting .289 with 170 home runs and 1,195 runs batted in in 1,978 games. He was the Most Valuable Player in the National League in 1947, when he batted .317 with 22 hme runs and 113 runs batted in. Mr. Elliott managed the Kansas City Athletics in 1960, finishing eighth and last in the American League with a record of 58-96. He died from a ruptured vein in his windpipe.

Politics and government
Jean Boggs was appointed Director of the National Art Gallery of Canada, becoming the first woman with the status of deputy minister to head an agency.

Labour
The British government of Prime Minister Harold Wilson agreed to increase doctors' and dentists' salaries by up to 30% after fears that thousands of general practitioners would leave the Health Service for private practice.

Energy
An international agreement was signed in Washington for construction of the Nam Ngum hydroelectric project in Laos.

40 years ago
1976

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Montreal 2 @ New York Islanders 5 (Montreal led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Philadelphia 4 @ Boston 2 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 3-1)

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Living Doll--Cliff Richard featuring the Young Ones

#1 single in Switzerland: Ohne dich (schlaf ich heut Nacht nicht ein)--Münchener Freiheit (2nd week at #1)

Died on this date
Paul Richards, 77. U.S. baseball player and manager. Mr. Richards was a catcher who played with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1932); New York Giants (1933-1935); Philadelphia Athletics (1935); and Detroit Tigers (1943-1946), batting .227 in 553 games; he caught all 7 games for the Detroit Tigers in their World Series win in 1945. Mr. Richards managed the Chicago White Sox from 1951-1954 and 1976; and the Baltimore Orioles from 1955-1961, with a career record of 923-901-13. His best team was the 1960 Orioles, who posted a record of 89-65 and finished second to the New York Yankees. Hoyt Wilhelm was a starting pitcher for the Orioles in the late 1950s, and his knuckleball baffled his own catchers as often as it did opposing hitters, resulting in many passed balls. Mr. Richards devised an oversized catcher’s mitt for catching the knuckleball, which resulted in fewer passed balls. He was born and died in Waxahachie, Texas.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Clarence S. Campbell Conference Finals
St. Louis 2 @ Calgary 8 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

25 years ago
1991

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Tingles (EP)--Ratcat

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Se Stiamo Insieme--Riccardo Cocciante (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): The Grease Megamix--John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Denmark (Nielsen Music Control & IFPI): Joyride--Roxette (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Joyride--Roxette (4th week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Désenchantée--Mylène Farmer (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his Kiss)--Cher

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Losing My Religion--R.E.M. (2nd week at #1)
2 One More Try--Timmy T
3 You--Ten Sharp
4 Joyride--Roxette
5 Always on the Run--Lenny Kravitz
6 Mega Mix--Snap!
7 Should I Stay or Should I Go--The Clash
8 Going to the Run--Golden Earring
9 Love and Marriage--Frank Sinatra
10 Liefde is Lekker Maar Lekker is Niet Altijd Liefde--Hanny

Singles entering the chart were Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey) by De la Soul (#23); Future Love Paradise by Seal (#24); Ring My Bell by Monie Love vs Adeva (#31); Geef Het Op by Clouseau (#32); Allons a Lafayette by Captain Gumbo (#34); and What About Tomorrows Children by Maggie Reilly (#36).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Baby Baby--Amy Grant (2nd week at #1)
2 Joyride--Roxette
3 I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)--Hi-Five
4 Here We Go--C+C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
5 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
6 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
7 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
8 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
9 You're in Love--Wilson Phillips
10 I Don't Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey

Singles entering the chart were We Want the Funk by Gerardo (#72); Place in This World by Michael W. Smith (#84); Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless) by Crystal Waters (#94); Life Goes On by Poison (#95); and Can I Call You My Girl by PC Quest (#96).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Baby Baby--Amy Grant (3rd week at #1)
2 Joyride--Roxette
3 I’ve Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat
4 Here We Go--C + C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams and Zelma Davis
5 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
6 You’re in Love--Wilson Phillips
7 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
8 Touch Me (All Night Long)--Cathy Dennis
9 I Touch Myself--Divinyls
10 I Don’t Wanna Cry--Mariah Carey

Singles entering the chart were We Want the Funk by Gerardo (#71); Place in This World by Michael W. Smith (#79); How Can I Ease the Pain by Lisa Fischer (#81); I'll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes) by Steelheart (#85); Why Should I Cry for You by Sting (#87); Do You Want Me by Salt-N-Pepa (#89); and Ooh La La by David Hallyday (#90).

Canada’s Top 10 (RPM)
1 Joyride--Roxette
2 I’ve Been Thinking About You--Londonbeat
3 Rhythm of My Heart--Rod Stewart
4 Cry for Help--Rick Astley
5 Baby Baby--Amy Grant
6 Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You--Robert Palmer
7 Animal Heart--Glass Tiger
8 You’re in Love--Wilson Phillips
9 Losing My Religion--R.E.M.
10 Highwire--The Rolling Stones

Singles entering the chart were Walk My Way by Beth Nielsen Chapman (#61); Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn (#63); On the Outside by Roch Voisine (#66); Too Hot by Alanis (#74); Voices that Care by Voices that Care (#76); Part of Me, Part of You by Glenn Frey (#78); Lift Me Up by Yes (#83); Dangerous by the Doobie Brothers (#88); What Comes Naturally by Sheena Easton (#89); Wash the Rain by World on Edge (#90); and I Rhyme the World in 80 Days by Kish (#93).

Horse racing
Strike the Gold, with Chris Antley aboard, won the 117th running of the Kentucky Derby before 135,554 fans at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:03 4/5. Best Pal placed second and Mane Minister finshed third in the 16-horse field.



Baseball
Chris James hit 3-run home runs in each of the 1st and 2nd innings and batted in 9 runs as the Cleveland Indians routed the Oakland Athletics 20-6 before 35,028 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

20 years ago
1996

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (ARIA): How Bizarre--OMC (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Flanders (VRT): Con te partirò--Andrea Bocelli (10th week at #1)

#1 single in Wallonia (Ultratop 40): Soirée disco--Boris (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in France (SNEP): Children--Robert Miles (7th week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Hava Naquila--Party Animals (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (BMRB): Fastlove--George Michael

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Always Be My Baby--Mariah Carey
2 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion
3 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project
4 Ironic--Alanis Morissette
5 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)--Coolio
6 You're the One--SWV
7 Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)--R. Kelly featuring Ronald Isley
8 Count on Me--Whitney Houston & CeCe Winans
9 Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check/Everything Remains Raw--Busta Rhymes
10 Follow You Down/Til I Hear it from You--Gin Blossoms

Singles entering the chart were The Earth, the Sun, the Rain by Color Me Badd (#46); Please Don't Go by Immature (#57); Kissin' You by Total (#59); Don't Rush by Silk (#91); Scary Kisses by Voice of the Beehive (#93); The World is a Ghetto by Geto Boys featuring Flaj (#94); and I Don't Wanna Be Alone by Shai (#96).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Because You Loved Me--Céline Dion (3rd week at #1)
2 Always Be My Baby--Mariah Carey
3 Ironic--Alanis Morissette
4 You're the One--SWV
5 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)--Coolio
6 Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)--R. Kelly (featuring Ronald Isley and Ernie Isley)
7 Woo-Hah!! (Got You All in Check)--Busta Rhymes
8 Nobody Knows--The Tony Rich Project
9 Count on Me--Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans
10 Doin' It--LL Cool J

Singles entering the chart were Old Man and Me (When I Get to Heaven) by Hootie & the Blowfish (#18); Can't Hang by Xscape featuring MC Lyte (charting with its A-side, Do You Want To, at #68); Tres Delinquentes by Delinquent Habits (#69); Live and Die for Hip Hop by Kris Kross (#74); No More Games by Skindeep featuring Li’l Kim of Junior M.A.F.I.A. (#87); Mr. Ice Cream Man by Master P (#90); and Scarred by Luke (#91).

Horse racing
Grindstone, with Jerry Bailey up, won the 122nd running of the Kentucky Derby before 142,668 fans at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:01 3/5. Cavonnier placed second and Prince of Thieves finished third in the 19-horse field.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
Florida 2 @ Philadelphia 3 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

Western Conference Semi-Finals
Chicago 1 @ Colorado 5 (Best-of-seven series tied 1-1)

10 years ago
2006

Terrorism
A U.S. federal judge sentenced Zacarias Moussaoui to life in prison for his role in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.